16 Facts About Irish Guards

Irish Guards, is one of the Foot Guards regiments of the British Army and is part of the Guards Division.

Irish Guards were formed on 1 April 1900 by order of Queen Victoria to commemorate the Irishmen who fought in the Second Boer War for the British Empire.

Irish Guards went into action again on 1 July 1916 when the Battle of the Somme began.

In 1917 the Irish Guards took part in the Battle of Pilckem which began on 31 July during the Third Battle of Ypres.

The Irish Guards conducted a fighting withdrawal and served as the Allied rearguard.

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Irish Guards returned to France in June 1944 when the 2nd and 3rd Battalions took part in the Normandy Campaign.

Irish Guards were part of the ground force of Operation Market Garden, 'Market' being the airborne assault and 'Garden' the ground attack.

Irish Guards were one of the few regiments in the British Army initially exempt from service in Northern Ireland during The Troubles.

Irish Guards were involved in the Balkans Conflicts when they were deployed to Macedonia and Kosovo in 1999 and were the first British unit to enter the Kosovan capital city of Pristina on 12 June.

The Irish Guards' mission changed from training to force protection in order to protect British assets in Iraq from possible retaliation by Iran.

The Irish Guards pipers wear saffron kilts, green hose with saffron flashes and heavy black shoes known as brogues with no spats, a rifle green doublet with buttons in fours and a hat known as a caubeen.

In "Walking-out Dress", the Irish Guards can be identified by the green band on their forage caps.

William, Prince of Wales, who is Colonel of the Irish Guards, wore the uniform of the Irish Guards at his wedding to Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge.

Recruits to the Irish Guards Division go through a thirty-week training programme at the Infantry Training Centre .

Since 1902, an Irish Guards Wolfhound has been presented as a mascot to the regiment by the Irish Guards Wolfhound Club, who originally hoped the publicity would increase the breed's popularity with the public.

The Irish Guards are the only Guards regiment permitted to have their mascot lead them on parade.